On a recent episode of “The Rockman Power Hour,” the host asked Corey Taylor to comment on a statement made by GUNS N’ ROSES bassist Duff McKagan. In the statement, McKagan praised Taylor‘s solo performance, saying: “I saw Corey command an audience like a young Bruce Springsteen, acoustic guitar around his neck and truth-telling through songs as his means of communication. It was truly inspiring.”
When asked how he felt when he first read that statement from McKagan, Taylor responded: “Are you kidding me? I mean, there are not a lot of people in this business that I have more respect for than Duff McKagan. Not only is he one of my good friends, but he’s… I mean, in terms of just people who have not only seen it all but they’ve been through hell and come back to live to tell about it, man.
He continued: “When you grow up watching somebody going, ‘F**k, he’s one of the coolest dudes in the world, and then all of a sudden his number is in your phone, it does things to your brain. So, when [Duff] said that [about me], when he wrote it, man, that meant so much to me ’cause I have not always been the easiest person to like in this business, let’s put it that way. ‘Cause I’m very free with my opinion — that’s putting it nicely. I tend not to hold back. I’m not a dick, but I’m not kissing anybody’s a*s, man; I don’t have to.
“At this point, when it comes to music, I take this very seriously, and if something feels half-assed or below average, I’m gonna f**king say something. So when I have somebody like that saying what he does… I try not to let the ego balloon get a little too big, I try to pop it with as many needles as I can, but at the same time, that’s a huge thing to live up to.
Corey added: “I’d be lying if I didn’t say that that’s kind of where my vision lies with what I wanna do as a solo artist — hints of Springsteen, hints of Ozzy [Osbourne], a lot of ALICE IN CHAINS and vibes like that. I’m basically just trying to put my spin on everything that I’ve ever loved and doing it for an audience. So it’s rad not only to feel the appreciation but to feel it from somebody like him who, he’s been all over the world, he’s in one of the biggest bands of all time, and he’s just one of the best in the business. Yeah, it’s a mindf**k. [Laughs]”
Taylor‘s upcoming solo studio album, CMF2, is scheduled for release on 15th September under the Decibel Cooper/BMG label.
